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judyanddavid (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Well, the movies have always favoured men, in the sense that male stars can continue long after their sexual sell-by date. In my youth, we didn't want to see women being slapped around (think of the shock of Jimmy Cagney and Mae Clark in Public Enemy). I miss the great roster of character women of yesterday, Bainter, Dressler, Lucile Watson, etc. who were acceptable as mature women. And I long for another Kate Hepburn - I can still remember the impact she made on me. So different, so vivid.
somersetdc (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
You make very good points, there is a lot of violence in today's movies. Despite the great opportunities for women today, the movie rolls of the 21st century do not often reflect the progress that women have made.
judyanddavid (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
As one of the audience for these films first time around (I'm 84), I simply remember loving them,and being so impressed by the production numbers. In any production number of stage/screen, the individual is necessarily a part of the whole. As a woman, I would rather see these beautiful girls forming wondrous patterns, than women being used as objects for men's sadistic fantasies and being degraded, as I feel they so often are in today's films.
somersetdc (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
There is a disturbing quality to these BB musicals. I wonder if people thought that in the 30s or if audiences were just interested in forgetting the Depression. There is a fascistic-Nurenberg-Triumph of the Will type of quality to BB's work. Individuals are just part of a larger organism that consists of these women grouped together, all with pasted smiles. There is something unwholsome about it--though it may only be because we are looking at him from more than 70 years distance. Any thoughts?
anglero2381 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
am 27 and just found out about Busby by watching Air's music video Venus. Amazing director!!!
tubeindividual (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
The lady who plays the little seamstress and who later emerges from the middle of the huge next of feathers and waves, she is the most gorgeous thing I at least can conceive of in a person. I used t know her name but sadly forgot. I do know she died young, in her early 60s, and that she appeared in some terrible grade Z western movies. She did at least also appear in some other B.Berkeley movies, I think Dames was one of them, and maybe others. Victoria Vinton, that was her name!
britcomic (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
I've never seen this Berkeley number before and I thought I'd seen them all. It's a classic - utterly bizarre and slightly disturbing as always with BB.
tomlynntigard (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
The music style has passed, but Busby Berkeley's visionary genius was a gift to our country.
gregoryagogo (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Does anyone know if there were any retakes due to sneezes?!
This song and the concept protrayed here is so divine! I get goose pimples.
hectorthewonderdog (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
I wonder how many ostriches it took to make that sequence |
